New Zealand: Dual sports jeopardise park's status (10 Jul 1998)

10 July 1998

Dual sports jeopardise park's status

by Geoff Longley

Playing a cricket test after a rugby game this summer would not be in Lancaster Park's best interests, believes Canterbury Cricket's chief executive Tony Murdoch.

Murdoch said care had to be taken with the scheduling of matches at the dual purpose ground or the park's status as a cricket venue could be downgraded.

He was speaking after a New Zealand-South Africa cricket test has been scheduled there from March 11-15, while Canterbury Rugby wants to host a Crusaders game there in late February. The Super 12 draft draw has yet to be finalised.

Murdoch cautioned that in the latest cricket dates released for the Indian and South African tours, Auckland has the most fixtures with five (four one-dayers and a test) and Wellington has four (two tests and two one-dayers).

"Christchurch is already ranking third with one test and two one-dayers and if it cannot sustain a test match, it would be pushed further down the list of preferred venues."

Murdoch said the consequences of playing a Super 12 rugby match less than three weeks before a cricket test could be serious.

Murdoch said part of the ground's proposed redevelopment was to cater for as much top level sport as possible.

"But New Zealand Cricket will look elsewhere if there are continued problems with ground suitability." The introduction of portable pitch technology would minimise such clashes, but that appears unlikely this summer.

While the pitch was successfully trialed in a three-day Fuji-Xerox Cup elimination match between Mid-Canterbury and Southland last March, a four-day first-class match has to be staged successfully there this season.

NZC chief executive Chris Doig said he was unable to say yet whether that could occur before Christmas (during the Conference series) or afterwards (in the Shell Trophy).

International Cricket Council approval has to be gained after a successful trial according to NZC. That was unlikely to be forthcoming in time for a portable pitch to be used during the international season.

Meanwhile, negotiations over compensation continue between the Victory Park Board and Canterbury Cricket over the aborted Shell Cup match between Canterbury and Northern Districts last December when the wicket was left uncovered.

Source :: The Canterbury Press (https://www.press.co.nz/)